Could Marijuana Slow Brain Aging?

A new study has found that cannabinoids, the group of chemical compounds found in marijuana, are shown to slow the effects of brain aging. The study, conducted by the Institute of Molecular Psychiatry at the University of Bonn in Germany, shows that the use of marijuana, specifically the stimulation of cannabinoid receptors in the human brain, trigger the release of antioxidants. Antioxidants are shown to terminate cells that are damaged, as well as treat conditions such as strokes and neurodegenerative disease; a category which includes Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and Huntington's disease.

So what does this mean for the average medicinal marijuana user? Andras Biokei-Gorzo, who led the study, told TIME magazine that manipulating cannabinoid receptors could be “...a promising strategy for slowing down the progression of brain aging and for alleviating the symptoms of neurodegenerative disorders.” Of course, there is always the concern of using a psychoactive drug on elderly patients, as well as marijuana's current classification as a controlled substance. But research like this is a big step forward. Freedom of information is crucial, and this study is a good sign that we are headed in that direction. Certainly, it indicates we are past the days where studies like these were frowned upon, or government coerced the end-results to suit their own means. And in the words of Biokei-Gorzo: “I’ve been trying to find a drug that will reduce brain inflammation and restore cognitive function in rats for over 25 years; cannabinoids are the first and only class of drugs that have ever been effective. I think that the perception about this drug is changing and in the future people will be less fearful.” We can only hope.